basketball | Friday, October 28, 2022 1:05 PM (Revised at: Friday, October 28, 2022 6:39 PM)

Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers Bet Builder Tips: Edwards Powers the Minnesota Win

Sam Cox

Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers Bet Builder Tips: Friday, October 28th

The 3-2 Minnesota Timberwolves are 8.5-point favourites over the 0-4 Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis are questionable for the Lakers, though Davis has featured on the injury report all season and is yet to miss a game. Russell Westbrook was out on Wednesday, and it has been rumoured he will come off the bench if he returns for this game.

Kyle Anderson is the only injury concern for the Timberwolves. The Lakers are still without long-term absentees Thomas Bryant and Dennis Schroder.

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Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers Preview
Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers Bet Builder

Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers Preview

Sat, Oct 29. 01:00 (UK time)

The Lakers deserve to be underdogs here. Their offence has been appalling, a chronic lack of spacing making it difficult for LeBron James and Davis to work their two-man game, and poor outside shooting leaving them at a simple mathematical disadvantage. Still, Los Angeles has lost two of its games by fewer than eight points. As a result, it is best to stay away from the spread here at 8.5.

Minnesota has the superior overall talent, and an offence which the Lakers will be unable to keep pace with. Throw in homecourt advantage, and this looks like a routine win for the Timberwolves. It is a short price, but their moneyline is a good way to get the ball rolling here.

Additionally, a low-scoring game seems inevitable. The under has cashed in three of four for the Lakers and three of five for the T-Wolves. Los Angeles is up in fourth in defensive rating, and has at least hustled on that end of the floor. With the Lakers so dependent on getting to the cup, Rudy Gobert will make their offence even clunkier. Nudging the total up to 230.5, bettors can feel confident in taking the under.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs Los Angeles Lakers Bet Builder

How the Lakers guard Anthony Edwards is an interesting element of this game. James could take the assignment on occasion, but that sort of defensive workload isn’t ideal at this stage of the season. Los Angeles is very short on plus perimeter defenders. Edwards is aggressive regardless of the matchup and circumstance.

The former first overall pick has scored 30+ in three of his five games this season. While he remains streaky, he is poised for a big Friday night. Spending more time with the ball in his hands, carrying a greater playmaking burden, Edwards’ scoring becomes all the more important with Davis limiting Gobert’s effectiveness at the rim. Even with team totals likely to be on the low side, Edwards hitting his points over is superb value.

The Timberwolves haven’t been perfect to start the year, and the Lakers’ shooting is bound to improve at some point, but there’s a chasm between these teams right now. This could be a statement game and win for Edwards.